Kameda keeps WBA 112lb belt

By Joe Koizumi

WBA flyweight champ Daiki Kameda (18-2, 11 KOs), 112, managed to retain his belt as he displayed a last surge from the ninth on, winning a unanimous decision (116-112, 117-112 and 118-110) over ex-titlist Takefumi Sakata (36-6-2, 17 KOs), 112, over twelve lousy rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. It was an encounter of Japanese compatriots, but was neither a clean fight nor a technically beautiful bout. Kameda, 21, looked least skillful, but attempted to score with big punches, while Sakata, 30, showed his trademark workman style by monotonously going forward without throwing many jabs. (More to come)